Odd funeral designs

lori042499

lori042499

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May 3, 2006
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Melrose, Massachusetts, United States
www.affairstorememberflorist.com
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Last week I sold some funeral arrangements that are a bit out of the ordinary to a family of a young woman being cremated...This will be an urn service, no body present...


I sold two arrangements for a table to frame the urn with curley willow etc to the parents of the decedent and a very pretty edge of the table wreath(the type that 1/3 of the wreath flaps off the table) that will have a picture frame in the middle...


So knowing that these are not your usual suspects for funeral arrangements in thsi area and knowing that some funeral homes in this area have weird cremation furniture I amde sure I called the funeral home to "discuss" the flowers and our options for them...well first of all, I think I could have picked the lady funeral director off the floor by calling...she was so flustered by my questions and really had no idea what I was talking about...she was very glad I called to actually put them in the loop, but was unaware that such pieces exist and really has no idea on how to deal with them...

So to ease her nervousness, I ask her if she would like me to make arrangements to arrive early to help with placement of the pieces...well, again, I think she almost passed out on the floor...I guess no florist has ever called them to discuss flowers and none have ever offered to place the pieces...

I guess my only option tomorrow is to dress nicely, show up at my scheduled time, place the pieces and move furniture if need be..and let them know that we are prepared to help all of their customers with this level of service, heres to hoping I can snag another funeral home with my charm and impeccable service, oh yeah they have 2 funeral homes in the area...and they are busy...
 
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Congrats! It's good that you help out like that. I know what you are talking about with the wreath that hangs off the table. Except the funeral home we delivered them too was nasty when we called and tried to explain how it's suppost to be set up. We were told that "we will set them up the way we want them". So we still tried to explain and the funeral home set up the wreath wrong and the family ended up complaining about the piece. So now we just tell everyone who orders a particular piece that the funeral home decides how and where the pieces go.
 
I was actually surprised that noone has ever brought one of these in to them before...I mean I can't be the only florist selling these, can I...well maybe, I guess most sales people will sell and funeral piece the same as a arrangement, would you like a spray or a basket, I hardley ever even see sprays at funeral homes when I deliver, all baskets all the time...I do everything, if I sold 600 baskets a day I would be one bored puppy....I like to play a bit, so if I can get them to bite, It makes me way happy.....
 
Again, I love my funeral directors here... I have access to place what I need, they are open to suggestions... just last week, I had a family that wanted a flag on the casket and a spray.. we decided on the red, white, and blue casket spray and the flag was folded to drape with the field on top and stripes on bottom over the draping on the foot of the casket. The funeral director had never seen it nor done it, so I instructed, he folded and placed.... and loved it after it was done!!
I've done the wreaths and hearts for urns (broken to hang down over the table), I've even pinned in lid pieces that families had specified in certain places. Again, they let me do whatever I need... It is great to be able to "work" with them... Good for you!!
 
Good for you, Lori.

I have a double urn that I've been doing quite a bit of lately that has an arch between the two urns. When I'm bringing one to a funeral home that has not had one yet, I bring it and snag a FD and show them how it is put together.
 
every time we do that bent wreath over the edge of the table we get more + comments and more sales of that piece. I too will call the FD to give them the heads up about what is coming and that we will be more than helpful in placing the pieces.

I have found most people have to see the wreath before they will buy. It's just not traditional for around here....

My biggest casket spray had a horse collar (think draft horses pulling a wagon). with lots of foliages and greenery. We brought a rubber bath mat to place under the piece because I was so afraid it would slide off. FD was really appreciative that we placed that one too. It was pretty heavy. But the family loved it.
 
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We had to do an urn piece recently and I was hoping to do the broken wreath, but they just got a new display piece and were using that. I had never seen one like it before, reminded me of the Ark type thing. Wooden frame box with glass case sitting on a rolling table with the handles like a coffin. Was difficult to design a piece for it, no room to set anything on or around. May have to do a standing spray next time.
 
One of the directors here has the ark..I cannot stand it, it is so outdated, I feel like they are putting the decedent on display in a museum....it just isn't very warm..I have voiced my opinion about it and have suggested that they update, even showed pictures of what can be done with urns nowadays!!! I will work on them..
 
Whenever you have an odd or unusual peice.............CALL the funeral home and speak with the senior director/manager BEFORE you set out to deliver it. Explain who you are and about the design. Tell them that you will set the arrangement for them and for the family. Advance notice and explanations can go a long way toward building a great relationship with the funeral directors.

The flower shop I worked at for many years was located NEXT DOOR to a funeral home. I always made it a point to place every casket spray I made on the casket myself. The directors let me do that. Whenever there was a unique or unusual design, I had the freedom to display the design as intended. However, even though it was simply a matter of walking the design out our back door, across a two lane highway, and into the funeral back door.....I always called them and let them know whenever there was a design out of the ordinary.
 
Went very well...The director thanked me up and down for calling ahead and coming and and showing them how this was to be presented...They were pleased with the arrangements and were amazed at how it all worked out...

The one question he had was.....What would happen if a funeral home didn't have the proper furniture to display this type of piece??

My answer was simple...The main reason I called was to ask about the furniture and give warnig of the pieces, had I not gotten good reception on the pieces or and absolute no from your company, i would have rearranged with the family pieces that would make everyone happy and comfortable...He really liked my answer, asked for a business card and thanked me again for the dedication and attention to detail...He said he hasn't seen this kind of service in the floral industry in a very long time!!! Yay me! Building relationships everyday, it is a long and tiring job, but someone's gotta do it!!
 
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Nope, forgot the camera at home...sorry..
 
Good for you, Lori. You can never know where that little bit of help will take you. I did a similar thing for our local FD with that very same type of urn wreath. When I have a lot of the family pieces, they have let me help set up - "This is your work", they say. And although I don't have their "contract", when their son passed away this year, they came to us because they wanted special treatment, and knew we would help them.
I just can't say enough about GREAT Customer Service. It speaks volumes (in sales).
 
Interesting thread!

Our driver's sister passed Wednesday night and tomorrow (Sunday) I'm planning to deliver and set up the family work for the urn. I did a smaller version of John Henry's arrangment on page 88. I called it "I Lean" while working on it today. When I called the funeral home to ask dimensions of the urn, they said "the regular size and it's round." Finally they told me it was about 12" tall, but didn't know the diameter, so I'm praying that when I get there, it will work out. I explained that two arrangments were to be placed on pedestals and there was dead silence on the other end.

Perhaps cremations are not common for them either?? With this economy, I'm sure we'll see more of them.

I plan to set everything up and will try to post a picture. Lori, I often forget my camera, but glad I finally got a BlackBerry and it takes a decent picture.
 
Yeah, i hear you as much as I love my G1 the pictures suck...
 
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